Sun Microsystems and Microsoft are getting cozy these days, with Sun joining Redmond’s Windows Server OEM.

Moreover, the two companies will work together to find ways of better deploying Windows Server on Sun’s 64-bit architecture systems.

“Today’s announcement is another example of Microsoft’s commitment to 64-bit computing,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president, Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. “The Sun hardware platform is an excellent foundation for Windows-based enterprise solutions such as Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition. Our customers will have an additional choice of Windows Server OEM partners with Sun.”

“Sun is now a single source for today’s leading operating systems- Solaris and Windows- on the industry’s most innovative x64 systems and storage products. Customers can now take advantage of the virtualization benefits of Windows and Solaris on Sun’s energy-efficient x64 systems,” said John Fowler, executive vice president, Systems Group, Sun Microsystems. “Microsoft’s recognition of our x64 systems and storage is a testament to the superior system design at the heart of our product portfolio.”

The catalogue of compatible 64-bit-servers includes Sun Fire X4100, Sun Fire X4100 M2, Sun Fire X4200, Sun Fire X4600 and Sun Fire V40z.

Sun will offer Windows Server in addition to its own Solaris 10, and will also provide utilities and value-added software offerings to server systems carrying Microsoft’s OS. We should expect Windows Server 2003 on Sun’s x64 servers by December.

The two companies will cooperate in the testing and validation of software for the Windows platform- installed on Sun’s systems- and in enterprise computing.

Since virtualization is the so popular today, especially in the server market, Sun and Microsoft will also join forces in order to ensure compatibility between each other’s virtualization technologies. Customers who prefer Windows Server on Sun’s Solaris and vice versa will enjoy support from engineers pertaining to both companies, who will also be working in the future at improving the virtualization experience.

Sun’s collaboration with Redmond will also involve the latter’s Mediaroom IPTV platform. AT&T has chosen Sun’s servers for its U-verse IPTV offering- based on Mediaroom- which also includes server and client software, so it’s essential for AT&T to benefit from support offered by both Microsoft and Sun.

Formerly dubbed Microsoft IPTV instead of Microsoft Mediaroom, the new software platform- revamped in June- features new enhancements such as personal media sharing, Multimedia Application Environment and Enhanced MultiView capabilities.

Thanks to Personal Media Sharing, the TV can be used to display the digital content (digital music or photographs) stored on the PC.

With Multimedia Application Environment, the service providers will be able to deploy advanced features such as dynamic video-on-demand portals, casual games and interactive TV services.

Since Microsoft is on an interoperability spree (remember the interop and patent agreements signed with the likes of Novell, Xandros or Linspire?), Sun has also been included in Redmond’s plans, but those go beyond the virtualization technology. Both companies will build an Interoperability Center on Microsoft’s Redmond campus, which will act as a working lab for Windows on Sun benchmarks and sales tools, and support customers running proofs of concept for projects focused on Windows on Sun x64 systems, including joint Sun/Microsoft solutions in areas such as databases, e-mail and messaging, virtualization, and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support in Sun Ray thin clients. The Interoperability Center will expand Sun’s presence on the Microsoft main campus, adding to existing Sun systems showcased and customer-tested in the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center.

In 2005, Microsoft allegedly paid $.95 billion to resolve antitrust and patent issues with Sun and that also market the beginning of a stronger relationship between the two behemoths. Sun also manged to bring IBM among its supporters, with the latter now offering extended support for Solaris 10 on its servers.